Nothing quite heralds the return of warmer weather like baseball season. Fans in Western and Central New York are lucky to have many minor and major league teams nearby. This spring and summer, grab your glove, hit the road, and take one of these dream baseball road trips.

GO FROM THE FARM TEAM TO THE BIG LEAGUES

Road Trip Mileage

• From Buffalo – 99
• From Rochester – 173
• From Syracuse – 249

Head to Sahlen Field in downtown Buffalo to see the Buffalo Bisons, the AAA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Sahlen Field is one of the biggest minor league ballparks and even hosted Toronto Blue Jays games in 2020 and 2021. Craft beer lovers will enjoy local brews at Consumer’s Pub at the Park while everyone will enjoy the action on the diamond as well as the famous Wing, Cheese & Carrot Race. We’re still pulling for celery.

Just like when a player gets called up to the big leagues, head up the QEW after the game in Buffalo for a major league match-up in Toronto. The Blue Jays are on an upswing, making the playoffs as a wild card team in 2022. Rogers Centre is a unique venue with a retractable roof that provides an optimum viewing experience, rain or shine. Watching the roof open is an experience of its own. And if you’re looking to book a hotel room nearby, you’re in luck. There’s a Marriott right inside the stadium!

SET OUT ON A RUST BELT ROAD TRIP

Road Trip Mileage

• From Buffalo – 349
• From Rochester – 418
• From Syracuse – 494

While the Pittsburgh Pirates might not be the most competitive team, PNC Park is one of the best baseball venues. NBC Sports calls it “as close to a perfect ballpark as you can get.” Enjoy the stunning views of downtown Pittsburgh as you take in a game with a Primanti Brothers sandwich in hand. Yes, they put the french fries on the sandwich. It’s about a two- hour drive from Pittsburgh to Progressive Field in Cleveland, and you’ll find it to be well worth

the trip. The Guardians are a top team in the American League and Progressive Field is a wonderful place to watch a game, with one of the best video scoreboards in the majors. If catching a major league homer is on your bucket list, bring your glove and head to Home Run Porch behind the left field foul pole.

SEE MLB’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Road Trip Mileage - New York City

• From Buffalo – 484
• From Rochester – 419
• From Syracuse – 338

Road Trip Mileage - Boston

• From Buffalo – 513
• From Rochester – 448
• From Syracuse – 368

Fans of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox abound in Western and Central New York. Fortunately, we are located within road trip distance of both of these legendary teams.

Red Sox and Yankees fans should start a road trip by visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. Find your team’s mustsee artifacts on the Starting Nine scavenger hunt. Or opt for a custom tour focused on your favorite team, which includes a private viewing of items not currently on display.

After paying respect to baseball history, Red Sox Nation can drive 200 miles to Worcester, MA, home of the AAA Worcester Red Sox. Check out the Summit Street fan experience, which features a restored 1940s lunch car, a duck boat used in past Red Sox championship parades, and local cuisine.

Hop back on the Mass Pike and head east towards Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox and one of the most celebrated sports facilities in the world. Be sure to take a guided tour where you can walk the warning track and sit atop the famous Green Monster fence. Another Fenway highlight is the Bleacher Bar, located beneath the center field bleachers. Fun fact, the Bleacher Bar happens to host a chapter of the Buffalo Bills Backers!

If you made a beeline for Derek Jeter’s plaque in Cooperstown, you’ll want to head south after your Hall of Fame visit to check out the Yankees’ AAA affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders. Playing their home games at the scenic PNC Field, Rail Riders games are known for their family-friendly atmosphere.

After seeing the stars of tomorrow, take the two-hour and twenty-minute drive to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium. You may want to consider parking your car near a train station and taking public transportation into the city – driving in The Bronx is not for the faint of heart! But the new Yankee Stadium is a treat for baseball fans with its modern amenities, wide range of food options, and large, open concourses. Get to the game early to experience the Bleacher Creature Roll Call, where the fans in section 203 chant each player’s name until the player acknowledges the crowd.

Ready for big (and minor) league fun this year? Save on tickets to baseball games around the country with AAA Tickets!

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